Methods and apparatus for varying web sidelay



mamoos AND APPARATUS FOR wmvmc was SIDELAY Filed April 22, 1954 H. W. FAEBER Jan. 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SIDELRY INVENTOR.

- HARRY W FAEBEF? BY v H oreNEYg.

If 3.. 3 T1 Jan. 28, 1958 H. w. FAEBER METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR VARYING WEB SIDELAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1954 INVENTOR. HARRY W. FAEBER ATT ENEYS United States Patent METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR VARYING WEB SIDELAY Harry W. Faeber, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Time, gncoli'porated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 424,907

3 Claims. (Cl. 271-26) This invention relates to web guiding. methods and apparatus and, more particularly, pertains to methods and apparatus for permitting sidelay correction of moving webs.

In the process of printing, it is often necessary to change the sidelay of the webs in order to guide them to various rolls in a proper path. Formerly, such sidelay correction was provided by a single roll or by a pair of rolls individually pivoted about an axis extending through one end thereof at right angles to the axis of rotation of the roll. Due to the disposition of the web on these rolls, movement of each roll about this latter axis resulted in a change of sidelay because of the increase in tension on one side of the web, which tends to climb or slide towards the high tension side just like a machine belt. Due to uneven tension, the web is liable to wrinkle and may even break if the rate of adjustment is too fast. Also, since change of sidelay is produced by increasing the tension on one side, the web continues to creep towards the high tension side as long as such increased tension remains in effect, i. e., as long as the roll is kept in the tilted position. This results in erratic over-correction.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for sidelay correction of a moving web lacking the above recited disadvantages.

It is another object of the invention to provide a change in the sidelay of a moving web by the adjustment of a simple screw mechanism for varying the angular disposition of two pivoted rolls.

These and further objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a pair of rolls, fixed relative to each other, and pivoted on an axis centrally disposed with respect to such rolls. A web lead approaching the device is 90 removed from the web lead between the rolls and a receding web lead is also 90 removed from the web lead between the rolls, resulting in a par allel relation between the approaching and receding web leads which travel in a common direction. Means are provided for swinging the rolls about the axis in order to secure a desired sidelay correction of the web.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompany drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of sidelay control apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which a web is threaded through the rolls of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of apparatus according to the present invention taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a further sectional view taken on the view line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the QU'QWS.

2,821,387 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 Describing the invention in detail with particular reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, two rolls 10 and 11 are journaled in a frame 12 consisting of a cross beam 13 joining two journal blocks 14 and 15. The beam 13 is pivoted at its center point 16 by a stud 16a, a nut 16b and a spacer 160 (Figure 4) on a cross member 17, joined at both extremities to supporting members 18 and 19 of a press frame (not shown).

In order to provide for rotation of the frame 12 about the pivot 16, a bar 20 having a U-shaped member 21 integral with the free end thereof is joined to the frame locked at any desired point. Also carried by the screw 25 is a screw follower 29 having pins 34 and 34a extending therefrom engaging the U-shaped member 21 on the bar 20 (Figure 5).

In a typical operation of the invention, a web 30 is fed to the rolls 10 and 11, as shown in Figure 3, with web leads 31 and 32 being as long as possible. It is necessary for the web 30 to approach to and recede from the sidelay apparatus at exactly right angles to a web lead 33 between the rolls 10 and 11 for proper operation of the device.

The handle 26 is next adjusted to provide the necessary change in sidelay, shown in Figure 1. Due to the center pivoting of the frame 12 at the point 16 and the angle the approaching and the receding web leads 31 and 32 make with the web lead 33, the web 30 will be steered sidewise, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, without increasing the tension on the web at one edge as against the tension at the other edge. In other words, the web tension remains equalized between both side edges of the web. This has two advantages. First, it minimizes stress concentration and the resulting danger of web breaks. Second, it avoids over correction of sidelay, which is one of the most serious drawbacks of sidelay devices using the principle of increasing the tension at one edge of the web and thus causing the web to creep sidewise in that direction due to the well-known tendency of belts and other web-like materials to climb towards the high side.

True steering is provided, since the web lead 33 between the rolls 10 and 11 assumes an angular position with respect to the web 30. This guides the web 30 to the new desired sidelay position. Also, since the web leads 31 and 32 are at right angles to the web lead 33, it is clear from the geometry of the arrangement that the web 30 is not forced to slide sideways but follows a true circular path around the rolls 10 and 11. Furthermore, due to the simultaneous movement of both of the rolls 10 and 11 about the center point 16, the tension on either side of the web 30 remains identical regardless of the angular position of the frame 12.

It will, of course, be understood that the above described embodiment of the invention is illustrative only and modification thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the screw adjusting mechanism for the arm 20 may be replaced by other equivalent means such as a hydraulic piston or a positioning servo mechanism. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the specific apparatus disclosed herein but is to be defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method for varying the sidelay of a moving web comprising the steps of passing the web through two parallehrolls' infixed relatiofrorropposite sides thereof and the direetionof movemenfof "the-web? and" maintaining equaltension at-bothed ges of thefweb during tlfeswing-l" ingmovemenrofthe rolls by steeringTh'e web"'aiouni1" 21' A"method for varying'the sidelay'ofa moving web comprising the steps of providing a"pair'"ofparallelrolls" rotatably-- mountedin" a frame ""cen'trally pivoted for movement about'an 'axis perpendicular to said*roll,feed:- eng the 'web to said rollsfwitl'r' the approaching'faird re ceding=web leadsperpendicular' to th'e"web"leafl between the rolls and parallel to' said axis, 'an'gnla'r'ly movingthe frame througha "desired angle aboutsaid axis "for moving theweb sidewis eg and maintaining" equal tension at both edges "of theweb 'duringangulaifmovenienfof the frame by steering the web "around-the rolls to new position? 3. Apparatusto-vary'the sidelay of a moving "web" comprising a pair of parallel rolls of equal diameter, a

framerotataulysupporting the rolls anrember "pivbtallv" supporting said frame for angular movement about a first axis equidistant from the axes of said rolls, means to move said frame angularly on the pivot member about said first axis, the axes of the rolls respectively lying in two parallel planes each perpendicular to the first axis and displae'ed from each othen alongjzthe first-axis a distance equal to the diameter bfl'said 'rolls}' the rolls adapted to receive; the web on opposite sides thereof with the appreaching and receding 'webf1ads' -being parallel -to the first axis, whrebv'the w'eb lead'between the rolls will be perpendicular to the approaching and receding web leads and angularrnoven-lent- 0E thefrar'neon the pivot member about the first axis --will steer=the web as'it-travels around the rolls to a new sidelay position with equal tension on both sides thereof.

Dickhaut July 5, 1927 

